2009 Will Be a Very Busy Year

Many of you have been asking what I will be doing in 2009. I am happy to announce that I have been named Executive Director of Citizens' Voice for Property Owners (CIVPRO). I have always been a free market conservative. For six years I did what I could to hold back the growth of government and protect constitutional rights. The right to property is one of those basic rights. Along with the right to life and liberty, it is what sets us apart from so many other countries around the world. Unfortunately, as government has continued to grow, your freedoms to own and use your property as you see fit has been severely eroded. Through a process called regulatory taking, not only have you been prohibited from using your property, but in many cases it has lost much of its value. Property owners need a voice. CIVPRO will be that voice for home owners, developers, farmers and businesses large or small. We will work with legislators to craft good laws that put the protections of your land rights into statute, if not into the State Constitution. We will uphold the rights of ownership and hold elected officials accountable for protecting those rights. It will be challenging and rewarding work. Along with this full-time occupation, I will also be serving as the State Advisory Chairman for Americans for Prosperity of Michigan (AFP-MI), a non-profit organization that works to protect free-market principles. After six years of full-time legislative work, I look forward to the freedom and independence of working outside the party structure to defend the conservative principles that made this nation great, not only as a full-time advocate for property rights, but also in my new role with AFP-Michigan.

GOP Convention This Weekend This weekend, Republicans from across the state will gather to elect our new leadership team and begin to strategize for victory in 2010. I agree with former Governor John Engler who said in a recent letter, "When I talk to people in Michigan, they tell me they want the Republican Party to return to its core principles. They want leaders who will insist on common-sense fiscal responsibility and leaders who believe empowering people creates jobs and strengthens our culture." I agree with Governor Engler. If we are to be successful we will all need to work together. I encourage all of you to join Chairman Weiser and the entire new leadership team to identify and recruit quality candidates for every House and Senate district. Robbie Rankey for Youth Vice-Chair The race for Youth vice-chair is the only one that is still contested. While I believe both candidates would do a fine job, I am supporting Robbie Rankey. I spoke at length to him and found him to be refreshingly honest and forthright. I am confident that Robbie will be a defender of the core principles and values Republicans stand for. Robbie comes across as organized, passionate and motivated. I am proud to support him for youth vice-chair. Regardless the outcome, I look forward to supporting the entire leadership team as we take on the challenges ahead.

House Education Committee Moves to Expand Government Control Over Public Education

The Michigan Constitution guarantees a free (taxpayer funded) education for its children. The state has to provide a free education, but are they required to mandate that every child actually attends? Apparently, the House Education Committee believes parents need additional guidance.

This past week, they moved HB4030 to the floor for consideration. This bill raises the compulsory attendance age to 18 from the current 16. On the face of it, it seems like a good thing. We don't want our children dropping out of school, do we? But data suggests there is little, if any benefit by this action. States that allow students to "drop out" at age sixteen have similar graduation rates (and in some cases better) to Michigan.

So, why bother? Could it be more about education employment than education itself? Consider, according to the House Fiscal agency, an additional 30,000 students would be enrolled. At 25 kids per classroom, that means 1,200 new teachers alone, not including support personnel. At the current rates, that would result in, perhaps $1 million in fresh dues for the education union. And, what do they do with that money? They lobby the legislature for more union-friendly legislation and they financially support more union-friendly candidates for office.

But, aside from that, the fact is, at over $7,600 per student, the School Aid Fund would need an additional $230 million, money the state does not have and which taxpayers are likely unwilling to provide.

House Education Committee Moves to Expand Government Control Over Public Education

The Michigan Constitution guarantees a free (taxpayer funded) education for its children. The state has to provide a free education, but are they required to mandate that every child actually attends? Apparently, the House Education Committee believes parents need additional guidance.

This past week, they moved HB4030 to the floor for consideration. This bill raises the compulsory attendance age to 18 from the current 16. On the face of it, it seems like a good thing. We don't want our children dropping out of school, do we? But data suggests there is little, if any benefit by this action. States that allow students to "drop out" at age sixteen have similar graduation rates (and in some cases better) to Michigan.

So, why bother? Could it be more about education employment than education itself? Consider, according to the House Fiscal agency, an additional 30,000 students would be enrolled. At 25 kids per classroom, that means 1,200 new teachers alone, not including support personnel. At the current rates, that would result in, perhaps $1 million in fresh dues for the education union. And, what do they do with that money? They lobby the legislature for more union-friendly legislation and they financially support more union-friendly candidates for office.

But, aside from that, the fact is, at over $7,600 per student, the School Aid Fund would need an additional $230 million, money the state does not have and which taxpayers are likely unwilling to provide.

Another Example of Government Protecting Us From Ourselves

Retraction I don't get it wrong too often, but when I do, I want to correct my mistake immediately and prominently. In my February 9 newsletter about the English resolution in Macomb County, I erroneously stated that the "CEO of the Macomb Chamber of Commerce has threatened a recall of Harry Awdey." I have since been made aware that no such threat was ever made. I apologize to all of you for giving you incorrect information. One of the core principles is integrity. I would never want to lose that with my readers. Jack's web site Track your legislator's voting record.

Read it and weep, kids.

As a former legislator, I can tell you from first-hand experience, too often bills are signed into law that later are discovered to have "unintended consequences." Here is an example from Washington.

 

Congress Strikes Again!

Dirt Bikes are Now Illegal for Kids Under 13 Years of Age

One of the "core principles" of limited government is the concept of individual responsibility. We must be left alone to make sound decisions for our families and businesses. But the "do-gooders" in Congress do not believe you have the brains to make decisions for yourself. They want to pass legislation to protect you!

Last year the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed into law. The title sounds great, doesn't it? Who would be opposed to improving product safety? The unfortunate reality is that members of Congress just don't think about the impact of their actions. In a classic example of unintended consequences, the government has shut down an entire industry.

One of the key intents of the CPSIA is to prevent children from ingesting lead. Quoting from the CPSC "Starting on February 10, 2009, consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part." There is one product in particular that is manufactured and marketed expressly for kids under the age of thirteen that exceeds the limit: off-road dirt bikes.

As of February 10, it is illegal for a child to ride one, or for manufacturers to ship them, or for dealers to sell them, or, for that matter, for consumers to even own one. A multi-million dollar business has been shut down. Across America, thousands of families who used to enjoy good, clean recreation as their children raced and participated in events with these small motorcycles have been stopped dead in their tracks. Track owners are suffering, too.

What Congress has done is bad enough, but in a time when jobs are disappearing by the minute, do we really need to shut down tracks, dealerships, accessory retailers, etc?

The bottom line is, government needs to leave us alone to run our own lives. We, the people, have the common sense to know when a product is safe for our children, and even when we don't, government is simply not bright enough to figure it out and save us from our own foolish decisions.

If you would like to take action and let Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission know what you think, you can go to this web site to register your opinion.

Take Action Today to Stop the 'Stimulus!

Time is of the essence but it is not too late to stop the $827 BILLION "stimulus" bill now under consideration in the U.S. Senate. Many have said this bill is loaded down with pork. The Center for Fiscal Accountability has a great weblog where you can see some examples of the useless expansions of government that are proposed in this bill. They include:

• $2 billion earmark for FutureGen near zero emissions powerplant in Mattoon, IL


• $39 billion slush fund for "state fiscal stabilization" bailout 


• $5.5 billion for making federal buildings "green" (including $448 million for DHS HQ) 


• $200 million for workplace safety in USDA facilities 


• $275 million for flood prevention 


• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation 


• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries 


• $650 million for the DTV transition coupon program 


• $307 million for constructing NIST office buildings 


• $1 billion for administrative costs and construction of NOAA office buildings 


• $100 million for constructing U.S. Marshalls office buildings 


• $300 million for constructing FBI office buildings 


• $800 million for constructing Federal Prison System buildings and facilities 


• $10 million to fight Mexican gunrunners 


• $1.3 billion for NASA (including $450 million for "science" at NASA) 


• $100 million to clean up sites used in early U.S. atomic energy program 


• $10 million for urban canals 


• $2 billion for manufacturing advanced batteries for hybrid cars 


• $1.5 billion for carbon capture projects under sec. 703 of P.L. 110-140 (though section only authorizes $1 billion for five years) 


• $300 million for hybrid and electric cars for federal employees 


• $198 million to design and furnish the DHS headquarters 


• $255 million for "priority procurements" at Coast Guard (polar ice breaker) 


• $500 million for State and local fire stations 


• $180 million for construction of Bureau of Land Management facilities 


• $500 million for wildland fire management 


• $110 million for construction for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 


• $522 million for construction for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 


• $650 million for abandoned mine sites 


• $75 million for the Smithsonian Institution 


• $1.2 billion for summer jobs for youth 


• $412 million for CDC headquarters 


• $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD 


• $160 million for "volunteers" at the Corp. for National and Community Service 


• $750 million earmark for the National Computer Center in MD 


• $224 million for International Boundary and Water Commission - U.S. and Mexico 


• $850 million for Amtrak 


• $100 million for lead paint hazard reduction 

Does this look like a job-creation bill or a massive expansion of government? The fact is, we are adding over $800 billion to a $3 trillion annual federal budget. Next year, we will start with a baseline budget of almost $4 trillion and grow from there. Even President Obama has admitted we will have deficits of at least $1 trillion for years to come.

It is not too late, but time is short. Log on to NoStimulus.com and add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of everyday Americans who are telling Congress to stop! Don't delay, log on now!

Take Action Today to Stop the 'Stimulus!

Time is of the essence but it is not too late to stop the $827 BILLION "stimulus" bill now under consideration in the U.S. Senate. Many have said this bill is loaded down with pork. The Center for Fiscal Accountability has a great weblog where you can see some examples of the useless expansions of government that are proposed in this bill. They include:

• $2 billion earmark for FutureGen near zero emissions powerplant in Mattoon, IL


• $39 billion slush fund for "state fiscal stabilization" bailout 


• $5.5 billion for making federal buildings "green" (including $448 million for DHS HQ) 


• $200 million for workplace safety in USDA facilities 


• $275 million for flood prevention 


• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation 


• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries 


• $650 million for the DTV transition coupon program 


• $307 million for constructing NIST office buildings 


• $1 billion for administrative costs and construction of NOAA office buildings 


• $100 million for constructing U.S. Marshalls office buildings 


• $300 million for constructing FBI office buildings 


• $800 million for constructing Federal Prison System buildings and facilities 


• $10 million to fight Mexican gunrunners 


• $1.3 billion for NASA (including $450 million for "science" at NASA) 


• $100 million to clean up sites used in early U.S. atomic energy program 


• $10 million for urban canals 


• $2 billion for manufacturing advanced batteries for hybrid cars 


• $1.5 billion for carbon capture projects under sec. 703 of P.L. 110-140 (though section only authorizes $1 billion for five years) 


• $300 million for hybrid and electric cars for federal employees 


• $198 million to design and furnish the DHS headquarters 


• $255 million for "priority procurements" at Coast Guard (polar ice breaker) 


• $500 million for State and local fire stations 


• $180 million for construction of Bureau of Land Management facilities 


• $500 million for wildland fire management 


• $110 million for construction for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 


• $522 million for construction for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 


• $650 million for abandoned mine sites 


• $75 million for the Smithsonian Institution 


• $1.2 billion for summer jobs for youth 


• $412 million for CDC headquarters 


• $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD 


• $160 million for "volunteers" at the Corp. for National and Community Service 


• $750 million earmark for the National Computer Center in MD 


• $224 million for International Boundary and Water Commission - U.S. and Mexico 


• $850 million for Amtrak 


• $100 million for lead paint hazard reduction 

Does this look like a job-creation bill or a massive expansion of government? The fact is, we are adding over $800 billion to a $3 trillion annual federal budget. Next year, we will start with a baseline budget of almost $4 trillion and grow from there. Even President Obama has admitted we will have deficits of at least $1 trillion for years to come.

It is not too late, but time is short. Log on to NoStimulus.com and add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of everyday Americans who are telling Congress to stop! Don't delay, log on now!

Macomb Commissioner facing recall for English Proposal?

Macomb County Charter Commissioner Harry Awdey is a bright young man. At 20 years of age, he was the youngest person ever to be elected to office in Macomb County. Now twenty-one years old, Harry is one of only four Republicans on the 26 member Macomb Charter Commission. Their primary task is to craft a new charter for the county. 

As a limited government conservative, Harry has been a proponent of transparency in government. He understands that government tends to grow and waste taxpayer money. His transparency in government proposal would shed a bright light on the operations of government and expose the mismanagement and misuse of taxpayer funds.

Last week, in another move to limit government and keep costs down, Commissioner Awdey proposed making English the official language of Macomb County. He notes that county government is faced with printing a growing number of documents in foreign languages, which is putting a strain on the county budget. His proposal has not met with support from his fellow commissioners.

This proposal makes good sense. It follows the concept that it is better to "teach a man to fish" than to give him a fish everyday. Upon investigation, Harry had discovered that the county spends more on bilingual education than on English as a Second Language. In other words, the county is investing more to keep immigrants speaking their native language than learning the language that will help them improve their economic standing. In fact, as reported by U.S. English.org, U.S. Census data reveals that an immigrant's income rises about 30% as a result of learning English. There are many more common-sense reasons to pass an Official English proposal. Learn more about this issue at the U.S. English web site.

Feel free to call members of the Macomb Charter Commission and let them know your feelings. Reach them at 586-463-2674 or contact them through their web site.

Read more about Harry Awdey and his proposal at the links below. You may also send a note of support or feedback to Harry here. You may make a $5 or $10 contribution to his "recall defense fund" on his web site.

Channel 7 TV news story.

Detroit Free Press story.

U. S. English web site.

Macomb Commissioner facing recall for English Proposal?

Macomb County Charter Commissioner Harry Awdey is a bright young man. At 20 years of age, he was the youngest person ever to be elected to office in Macomb County. Now twenty-one years old, Harry is one of only four Republicans on the 26 member Macomb Charter Commission. Their primary task is to craft a new charter for the county. 

As a limited government conservative, Harry has been a proponent of transparency in government. He understands that government tends to grow and waste taxpayer money. His transparency in government proposal would shed a bright light on the operations of government and expose the mismanagement and misuse of taxpayer funds.

Last week, in another move to limit government and keep costs down, Commissioner Awdey proposed making English the official language of Macomb County. He notes that county government is faced with printing a growing number of documents in foreign languages, which is putting a strain on the county budget. His proposal has not met with support from his fellow commissioners.

This proposal makes good sense. It follows the concept that it is better to "teach a man to fish" than to give him a fish everyday. Upon investigation, Harry had discovered that the county spends more on bilingual education than on English as a Second Language. In other words, the county is investing more to keep immigrants speaking their native language than learning the language that will help them improve their economic standing. In fact, as reported by U.S. English.org, U.S. Census data reveals that an immigrant's income rises about 30% as a result of learning English. There are many more common-sense reasons to pass an Official English proposal. Learn more about this issue at the U.S. English web site.

Feel free to call members of the Macomb Charter Commission and let them know your feelings. Reach them at 586-463-2674 or contact them through their web site.

Read more about Harry Awdey and his proposal at the links below. You may also send a note of support or feedback to Harry here. You may make a $5 or $10 contribution to his "recall defense fund" on his web site.

Channel 7 TV news story.

Detroit Free Press story.

U. S. English web site.

What the Governor Forgot to Tell You

Tuesday night, the governor gave her annual State of the State address. As usual, it was a well-delivered speech. It had elements of optimism and hope. That, I can appreciate. As with most SOS speeches, it was her opportunity to introduce new initiatives. She mentioned some of them, but failed to mention several others.

Jack McHugh and his colleagues at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy have done their annual analysis of the Tuesday speech. They looked at how many limitations and expansions of government governor Granholm proposed. Six limitations and nine expansions were mentioned but in fact, seven more growth measures were in the written text of her speech.

The limitations she mentioned included reducing the salaries of elected officials, eliminating all earmarks, cutting off funding for the two state fairs, eliminating the department of History, Arts and Libraries, and turning wetlands enforcement over to the federal government. While her proposals are all laudable, they add up to a miniscule savings of perhaps a few million dollars in a year when the state is facing a $1 billion-plus revenue shortfall.

In spite of the collapsing economy and growing debt, the governor proposed at least 16 expansion measures including: Creating a state program to pay people to winterize homes and schools, using strict regulations to stop any new coal fired electricity plants, providing state subsidies for homeowners facing foreclosure, forcing insurance companies to freeze their rates, spending $20 million to tear down abandoned homes, giving away state property to any business that creates at least 20 "green" jobs, and developing a state initiative to address childhood obesity.

It can be argued that none of these measures are best delivered by government, but without a doubt, they will lead to an expansion of government, hiring of more bureaucrats and expenditure of more tax dollars that are not available.

You can read the details of the governor's proposals here.

What the Governor Forgot to Tell You

Tuesday night, the governor gave her annual State of the State address. As usual, it was a well-delivered speech. It had elements of optimism and hope. That, I can appreciate. As with most SOS speeches, it was her opportunity to introduce new initiatives. She mentioned some of them, but failed to mention several others.

Jack McHugh and his colleagues at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy have done their annual analysis of the Tuesday speech. They looked at how many limitations and expansions of government governor Granholm proposed. Six limitations and nine expansions were mentioned but in fact, seven more growth measures were in the written text of her speech.

The limitations she mentioned included reducing the salaries of elected officials, eliminating all earmarks, cutting off funding for the two state fairs, eliminating the department of History, Arts and Libraries, and turning wetlands enforcement over to the federal government. While her proposals are all laudable, they add up to a miniscule savings of perhaps a few million dollars in a year when the state is facing a $1 billion-plus revenue shortfall.

In spite of the collapsing economy and growing debt, the governor proposed at least 16 expansion measures including: Creating a state program to pay people to winterize homes and schools, using strict regulations to stop any new coal fired electricity plants, providing state subsidies for homeowners facing foreclosure, forcing insurance companies to freeze their rates, spending $20 million to tear down abandoned homes, giving away state property to any business that creates at least 20 "green" jobs, and developing a state initiative to address childhood obesity.

It can be argued that none of these measures are best delivered by government, but without a doubt, they will lead to an expansion of government, hiring of more bureaucrats and expenditure of more tax dollars that are not available.

You can read the details of the governor's proposals here.